Two teams of four students each will work collaboratively with this summer's program faculty, Professor Kurt Bryan and Professor David Finn. Professor Bryan's team will explore "inverse problems" related to detecting cracks in materials through noninvasive testing. Professor Finn's team will explore "the shape of a cookie", a problem involving geometric analysis that concerns the shape assumed by a sesile drop (the "cookie dough") on a flat surface (the "cookie sheet"). Both teams will make use of computers and software such as Matlab and Maple. Brief mathematical descriptions of the two research. More detailed descriptions of the areas appear on the REU website.

In addition to the technical program, participants will engage in a companion program to develop their oral and written mathematical communication skills, as well as collaborative and other professional skills. This will be accomplished through required oral presentations, written technical reports, and a close, positive working environment among the participants and the program faculty. The bulk of the work will take place in the "Theorodrome", the computer laboratory/workplace devoted to the REU, and in adjoining classrooms. A list of technical reports and refereed papers prepared by participants since 1990 is available: RHIT REU Publications